Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 804

804. Skirmish in the Jungle (10)

After a moment of silence, Yi Jing-ok quickly sent a messenger to summon his subordinate commanders.

“Those damned bastards are up to their tricks again.”

At Yi Jing-ok’s words, the expressions of the subordinate commanders, especially those in charge of the vanguard, hardened.

It was because of the memories of being repeatedly ambushed and bogged down by the Mexica.

The unfamiliar natural environment of the jungle instilled instinctive fear in the soldiers. With the addition of the Mexica’s ambushes, the soldiers’ mental fatigue rapidly increased.

Fortunately, the Dark Strike Team stepped in to hunt the Mexica in reverse, which significantly reduced the soldiers’ fatigue. However, without the Dark Strike Team, many soldiers would have been unable to cope with the mental strain and would have been forced to withdraw from the front lines.

That was why the vanguard commanders’ expressions had stiffened.

Yi Jing-ok, observing the commanders’ expressions, continued speaking.

“It seems they’re trying to use the ‘hammer and anvil’ tactic.”

Yi Jing-ok’s subsequent explanation could be summarized as follows:

-The Mexica’s total strength is estimated to be around 60,000. However, this is a minimum estimate.

-The Mexica have divided their forces into two groups.

-One group of about 30,000 is preparing to block our path head-on. The other group is moving to strike our right flank.

“It’s certainly the ‘hammer and anvil’ tactic, but…”

One of the subordinate commanders raised an objection after hearing Yi Jing-ok’s explanation.

“For this tactic to succeed, the ‘hammer’ must be fast. However, most of them are infantry, so how can they move quickly? It’s a foolish choice that benefits us, but I’m worried it might be a trap.”

“That’s a good point.”

Yi Jing-ok nodded in response to the subordinate commander’s point and shared his own thoughts.

“In my opinion, there are three main reasons why the enemy commander devised this plan.”

Yi Jing-ok explained his reasoning behind the enemy’s strategy.

-The enemy’s feet are slow, but our feet are relatively fast. And the jungle is the best shield to obscure our vision.

By using the natural cover of the jungle, they don’t have to detour far, and since we move quickly, they can target our flank with just a little diligence.

-They have already experienced our firepower firsthand. Having learned our strengths and weaknesses to some extent, they plan to concentrate a large force on one point on our flank to inflict damage.

“…Finally, it’s clear that those bastards have no choice but to divide their forces. The most likely reason is that the two groups have commanders of equal rank. It’s like having two heads on one body, so they probably thought it would be better to divide the body into two. And if the two commanders have a bad relationship, that would be the icing on the cake. Hmm….”

Yi Jing-ok paused, considering his words, and then continued with a confident tone.

“It’s certain that the two groups of commanders don’t get along. Otherwise, those who have already experienced our firepower wouldn’t have divided their forces equally.”

The commanders all nodded at Yi Jing-ok’s words.

“Then how will you respond?”

At the subordinate commander’s question, Yi Jing-ok replied briefly.

“It’s simple. We’ll crush the anvil and then encircle and annihilate them.”

Yi Jing-ok explained his plan.

-They believe their anvil is strong. Or, even if it’s not strong, they expect it to buy them time to strike our flank.

-However, we have never used our full firepower.

-From now on, we will move all our artillery forward with all our strength. We will also divide our forces into two groups.

-We will concentrate the firepower of the artillery to crush the anvil in front, and then break through with our troops.

-The troops that break through the anvil will annihilate the remaining forces of the anvil and simultaneously turn to pursue the enemies flanking us.

-The remaining group of troops will form a defensive line in front of the flanking enemy, defend against the enemy’s offensive, and simultaneously apply pressure in reverse.

-The unit forming the defensive line will operate mainly around the armored carts.

“…In short, it’s a battle of which anvil is stronger, theirs or ours. The side with the stronger anvil wins. Surely our anvil isn’t weaker, is it?”

At Yi Jing-ok’s joking question, the commanders smiled wryly and replied.

“Surely that can’t be the case?”

“Good!”

Satisfied with his subordinates’ confident and murderous response, Yi Jing-ok continued.

“The hammer is also stronger on our side. Because the enemy’s anvil is located on the plains in front of the jungle. Once we crush the anvil, we can make full use of our carts. If we can make full use of our carts, we can properly strike the back of those targeting our flank.”

The commanders all nodded at Yi Jing-ok’s words.

“Does everyone understand?”

“Yes!”

“Then let’s divide the units.”

* * *

While Yi Jing-ok was busy reorganizing his troops, Akon was reviewing the plan with his subordinates in the jungle.

“Are we continuing to move as one group?”

“That’s right. The Daehan warriors [Korean warriors] are more spread out than we thought. To cooperate from both sides, we need to be in sync, but in this situation, we can’t properly use messengers.”

“Ah….”

The subordinates all nodded at Akon’s explanation. Akon continued to explain.

“And you’ve seen the weapons the Daehan warriors use, right? There are gaps in between. We have to push our warriors in when those gaps appear. To do that, we need enough warriors. That’s why we didn’t divide them.”

“I see.”

“As expected of Akon!”

Receiving praise from his subordinates, Akon re-explained the changed parts of the upcoming operation.

After the subordinates who understood the plan returned to their units, Akon muttered to himself.

“This war is a losing war from the start.”

Akon sensed defeat.

The weapons of the Daehan warriors were much more powerful and deadly than their own.

“It seems like there is a problem with their weapons now, but if the commander has any sense, he will have an adequate amount of spare weapons.

Because that’s what he would have done.

The reason they are not using such spare weapons is surely because they have determined that they can endure with what they currently have.

Again, that’s what he would have done.

But now, it was a decisive battle.

If the enemy commander has any sense, he will surely take out all the weapons he has stored.

If so, those fools blocking the entrance to the jungle will surely be wiped out.

Therefore, the correct answer was for him to take as many of his troops as possible and retreat to Tenochtitlan.

There were still a considerable number of troops remaining in Tenochtitlan. And the Daehan warriors would have consumed a considerable amount of weapons and soldiers while dealing with those fools lined up at the entrance.

Akon’s solution was political negotiation.

Combining the troops remaining in Tenochtitlan with his own troops would surely create enough force to subdue a nearby city-state.

If that happened, it would be a considerable burden for the Daehan warriors who had consumed troops and supplies, and in the end, they would be able to end the war at a reasonable level through negotiation.

That was the only way to ensure the safety of the Mexica.

If those fools, as well as his own troops, were destroyed here, it would be impossible for the forces of Tenochtitlan to stop the Daehan warriors.

The aftermath was also a problem.

Around Tenochtitlan, cities hostile to the Mexica were constantly looking for opportunities.

For them, the moment when Tenochtitlan was devastated by the Daehan warriors would be the best opportunity.

“The opposite is also true….”

If, by the grace of Tescatlipoca [Aztec god of the night, the north, and war], the god of war, all the weapons of the Daehan warriors became useless, and those fools unexpectedly held out well, a united force would be needed.

It was for the reason he had told his subordinates.

However, the reality was that it was certain that the Mexica would not be able to push back the Daehan warriors.

“Hoo~. How did things get to this point….”

Akon despaired at the situation, where he was not confident of victory but was instead searching for a way to avoid the destruction of his country, and sighed.

* * *

Ten days later, the expeditionary force advanced to the very entrance of the jungle.

It took time to adjust the units, such as moving the artillery units from the rear to the front, and the heavy artillery slowed down the advance.

“I thought they would push in first….”

Yi Jing-ok, receiving reports from the native warriors and the Dark Strike Team who had gone out on reconnaissance, chuckled and muttered.

“We’re grateful that they’re waiting so obediently. I mean it sincerely.”

Muttering to himself in a tone that was unclear whether it was sincere or sarcastic, Yi Jing-ok ordered his subordinates.

“Tell them to launch the balloons.”

“Yes, General!”

Soon after, Yi Jing-ok watched the balloons rising into the sky and smiled wryly.

“If we’re going to fight properly, we need to prepare properly. Check the readiness of the artillery!”

“Yes, General!”

Meanwhile, the Mexica army camp, which was set up beyond the jungle, was in chaos.

“What is that!”

“What is that in the sky!”

Even the jaguar warriors [elite Aztec warriors], not to mention the lower-ranking warriors, were flustered, so the eagle warriors [another type of elite Aztec warrior] stepped forward.

“Pull yourselves together!”

“Be calm! The enemy is right in front of us!”

“It’s the enemy’s sorcery to confuse your eyes!”

“You’ll die if you focus on that!”

At the shouts of the eagle warriors and officers, the warriors stopped panicking. However, the warriors were looking alternately at the sky and the jungle with anxious eyes.

This was also the case for the eagle warriors and officers. On the outside, they were scolding the soldiers with cold faces, but their eyes were constantly shaking.

* * *

“The artillery is all ready.”

“Then tell them to start firing.”

Shortly after Yi Jing-ok’s order was issued, the standard guns fired from the batteries that had finished deploying.

Bang! Boom!

The artillerymen, who quickly finished reloading, looked up at the balloons in the sky.

Seeing the luminous signals sent from the balloons, the artillery unit commanders adjusted the elevation of the artillery and fired the standard guns again.

“Hit!”

“Fire all artillery!”

At the order of the battery commander, the signalmen waved their flags, and all the artillery that had been waiting fired simultaneously.

* * *

The Mexica army, which was entrenched at the entrance and waiting for the expeditionary force, began to suffer fatal damage from the expeditionary force’s artillery barrage.

A sound like thunder echoed from beyond the jungle, and soon after, the ground shattered and soared into the sky with loud explosions here and there in the Mexica army camp.

No, it wasn’t just the ground that was shattered. The warriors standing on that ground were also shattered and soared into the sky.

“Where on earth? How?”

The Mexica, who had never even imagined attacking over the jungle, thought it was a curse or magic.

“It’s magic! It’s a curse!”

“Run away! Run away!”

The Mexica warriors, who thought the expeditionary force’s shelling was a curse or magic, began to retreat in a hurry. Among the retreating warriors, there were also eagle warriors and officers mixed in.

However, the expeditionary force’s artillery, aided by the balloons, was relentlessly chasing and destroying them.

While the Mexica army camp was collapsing under the shelling, the expeditionary force, armed with light armored carts and long rifles, burst out of the jungle and pulled the trigger on the Mexica warriors.